2017 HONDA RIDGELINE
The Ridgeline pickup is atypical in more than
just having a unibody structure. It is also the
only pickup to have a 5-Star Overall Vehicle
Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating
from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Both of which are as good as it gets in terms of
ratings. As regards the body material used for the
Ridgeline, 19.3 percent is ultra-high-strength steel,
35.7 percent is high-strength steel and 41.3 percent
is mild steel. (To be fair, there are also aluminum
and magnesium. At 1.6 percent and 0.6 percent,
respectively.)
Through the extensive use of steel,
as well as clever design, like the
Advanced Compatible Engineering
(ACE) body structure, the Ridgeline scores
at the top in safety ratings.
2017 BUICK LACROSSE
One of the hallmarks of Buick is what the company calls
"QuietTuning." Which has to do with using sound-ab-
sorbing and sound-attenuating materials. It also has to
do with creating a solid structure. According to Buick,
the sound level of an idling LaCrosse is 30 dB(A). The
inside of a library is 40 dB(A). The sound level of a
cruising LaCrosse is 60 dB(A). The typical volume of
a television in a living room is 70 dB(A). Yes, quiet.
The LaCrosse is built with 26 percent high-strength,
low-alloy steel; 23 percent mild steel; 16 percent ultra-
high-strength steel; 15 percent advanced high-strength
steel; 9 percent bake-hardenable steel; and 8 percent
press-hardened steel.
When you're looking to help minimize
vehicle noise, you create a solid structure.
Which is exactly what's been done for
the LaCrosse.
22
STEEL